Our Program
TerraCorps believes in the power of local nonprofits to understand and serve their communities best. We also know that our vision -to create a future where land is the foundation of health and wellbeing for ALL people in EVERY community- is best achieved by helping grassroots organizations get more done.
That’s why TerraCorps places AmeriCorps Members, in 11-month service terms, at a network of 40+ community-nonprofits focused on protecting land and advancing equitable community land uses that support human health and environmental sustainability.
Through an innovative service model, local non-profits can host emerging TerraCorps leaders who will help them improve program effectiveness, reach more people, and achieve better outcomes for the communities they serve.
Each year, a new cohort of Members deploy to their service sites where they serve full-time (38 hours/week) for 1700-hour terms—individually or in cohorts—in 1 of 5 Coordinator positions managing capacity building and direct service projects aimed at specific needs of their service sites and the populations they serve. Members engage communities from five essential roles as follows:
Community Engagement. Members develop and lead culturally inclusive programming, events, and volunteer opportunities that provide broad social and environmental benefits to traditionally underrepresented beneficiaries. Members lead educational events and projects that exhibit how sustainable land use can address inequities in public health, economic opportunity, education, and accessibility. Members revitalize urban parks, plant urban shade trees, create accessible camping opportunities, promote nature in the arts, encourage backyard gardening, etc.
Land Stewardship. Members organize volunteers to support hands-on stewardship of open lands. Members help service sites utilize Geographic Information Systems and GPS technology, and develop field survey techniques for natural resources inventory, ecological assessment, and monitoring of conservation land. Members and volunteers implement land stewardship projects such as invasive species removal, native plant restoration, erosion control, habitat improvement, and build and improve trails for public accessibility.
Regional Collaboration. Members organize and facilitate multi-stakeholder networks to identify community needs, develop collaborative projects, and identify opportunities for resource sharing and funding. Members engage partners in strategic conservation planning, food systems assessments, community resource inventory and mapping projects, and community education campaigns
Sustainable Agriculture. Members organize volunteers to help build and manage community farms and gardens so more people can grow and access healthy food. Members train and educate beginning gardeners and farmers to use organic growing practices, plan growing systems, improve soils, and remove invasive species. Members and their volunteers help communities restore land, build garden beds and greenhouses, access water, and harvest and distribute food to the community.
Youth Education. Members partner with public schools to lead students on interpretive and inquiry-based field trips to investigate local flora and fauna and evaluate environmental conditions. Members use experiential education techniques to build school gardens and teach students to plant, grow, harvest, and eat vegetables. Members partner with youth groups to lead land stewardship focused service-learning projects.
Members serve alongside a professional mentor (site supervisor) and learn to manage community programs and projects. These pairings result in win-win outcomes for Members, partners, and the communities they serve. Members gain professional skill sets, experience, and a network of colleagues that help them launch their careers. Partners receive capacity-building support that strengthens their ability to fulfill their missions over time, thereby enhancing the positive impact on the lives and communities they serve.
YES, I want to help communities gain access to and conserve land for people and nature
Funding for TerraCorps
TerraCorps is a grant funded program contingent upon renewal of federal funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). CNCS grants to AmeriCorps programs in Massachusetts are administered by the Massachusetts Service Alliance.
AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 men and women in intensive service each year through more than 15,000 nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. AmeriCorps members help communities tackle pressing problems and also leverage their service by mobilizing volunteers to help address community needs for environmental stewardship, health, education, economic opportunity, disaster services, and support to veterans and military families. To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit americorps.gov.
The Massachusetts Service Alliance ( mass-service.org) is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the state commission on service and volunteerism. They are committed to increasing the number of people engaged in meaningful volunteer opportunities across Massachusetts that are both fulfilling for the volunteers and Corps members and that meet critical needs in our community. The Mass Service Alliance amplifies the impact of volunteerism and service across the Commonwealth by supporting organizations that help our residents and communities thrive. TerraCorps is one of 23 AmeriCorps programs for which the Mass Service Alliance currently administers funding and supports program implementation.
ServeRI, (serverhodeisland.com),Rhode Island’s Commission for National and Community Service, catalyzes inclusive, equitable service opportunities to strengthen Rhode Island by directing national service resources and volunteers to evidence-based programs that make a measurable impact in education, health, housing, and other social services. Service and volunteer programs do more than move communities forward; they serve the participants by providing pathways to new career and leadership opportunities. National service places hundreds of adults each year into intensive service positions in Rhode Island where they learn valuable work skills, earn money for education, and develop a life-long commitment to active citizenship.
